Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

An internally displaced Kurdish family in northern Iraq, 2016 (Maranie R. Staab)

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Turkish Military
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Incident Code

TS642

Incident date

October 5, 2023

Location

مدينة نبل, Nubul, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On 5 October 2023, a civilian was killed and “dozens” of others were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of the city of Nubul.

Fox Press reported that a civilian was killed and several others were injured when Turkish forces and their factions allegedly shelled the city of Nubul at dawn. According to Nubul City News, the man who was killed was 50 years old – he was returning home when he was killed, and Aleppo News identified the man as “retired Colonel Younis Younis“.

Press News reported that “dozens” of civilians were wounded by the shelling.

Images posted by Nubul News show the significant material damage caused by the shelling.

Nubul City posted that the Younes Younes was buried at the Martyrs’ Cemetery and condolences would occur at Imam Zain Al-Abidin Mosque, Eastern District

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Younis Younis يونس يونس
50 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Press News facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city facebook

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS633

Incident date

October 4, 2023

Location

بلدة صفيا , the neighborhood of Safia in the city of Hasakah, Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

On October 4, 2023, four civilians – four men – were reportedly injured by Turkish drone strikes on a factory, in Safia neighborhood, Hasakah town, according to most local sources.

Initial reporting by HawarNews indicated that ‘two factory workers were wounded, as the drone was hovering in the area’, making it difficult for ‘ambulances to arrive to transport the wounded’. Most sources later reported four civilians injured in the attack. The Asayish’s Media Centern, quoted by NPA, said that a factory was hit by three Turkish shells, and that the civilians injured had ‘multiple wounds’. Victims were then taken to the hospital for treatment. SOHR explained that the factory is located on the main road between Al-Hasakah-Al-Qamishly, ‘which SDF use as a military barrack’. Most sources described the factory as a brick factory while other sources alleged that it was an ammunition factory belonging to SDF or ‘SDF military barracks’. One source affirmed that the strikes hit ‘the farms of Mushayrifa Hamma’. Hawarnews included the identities of the four civilians allegedly injured in the attack – and indicated that two of them were in critical condition.

SyriaTV also reported deaths and casualties among SDF members : ‘Private sources told the “Syria TV” website, “A Turkish march targeted with three missiles a former tile-making factory that the SDF had converted into a warehouse and ammunition-manufacturing factory in the village of Safia, north of Hasakah.”‘ SyriaTV counted at least ten SDF members killed and injured, ‘after a series of explosions inside the factory’, and said those wounded were taken to a military hospital in Hasakah, but did not provide any further details on the number of SDF killed or injured, or on any civilian casualties.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Ali Hamo Na'aso
70 years old male injured
Bashir Issa Hamid
49 years old male injured
Abdul Aziz Al-Muhammad
Adult male injured
Adnan Bahro Abdullah
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–5
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–5

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Turkish drone strike on a brick factory in the town of Sfeya in Hasakah Governorate. Source: NPA
    Alleged Turkish drone strike on a brick factory in the town of Sfeya in Hasakah Governorate. Source: NPA
  • 'A Turkish occupation drone targeted the town of Safia in the city of Hasaka, amid reports of casualties.' Source: Hawarnews
    'A Turkish occupation drone targeted the town of Safia in the city of Hasaka, amid reports of casualties.' Source: Hawarnews

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Four civilians were allegedly injured in a Turkish drone strike on October 4, 2023. Source: ANHA English
    Four civilians were allegedly injured in a Turkish drone strike on October 4, 2023. Source: ANHA English

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–5
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–5

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS632

Incident date

September 27, 2023

Location

قرية حدريات, Hudayrat village, Al-Hishah district, Ain Issa, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Wednesday, September 27, 2023, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that an artillery shelling was allegedly carried out by the Turkish forces and their proxy factions on Hudayrat village in Al-Hishah district of the eastern countryside of Ain Issa. The attack reportedly killed at least one civilian, later identified as Omar Muhammad Al-Juwaid (35). Meanwhile, two other civilians, identified as Mahfouz Al-Hammadi (30) and Merisi Al-Hammadi (32), were reportedly injured and hospitalised.

On the day of the alleged incident, multiple local media outlets and social media groups also reported the airstrike, corroborating the location, number and identities of the victims and attributing the airstrike to the Turkish forces. Some of the outlets also circulated the [WARNING: GRAPHIC] pictures of two of the victims at the hospital, one of whom appeared to be killed and the other appeared to suffer injuries.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Omar Muhammed al-Juwaid عمر محمد الجويد
35 years old male killed
Mahfouz Al-Hammadi محفوظ الحمادي
30 years old injured
Merisi Al-Hammadi مريسي الحمادي
32 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS631

Incident date

September 21, 2023

Location

قرية صفاوية, Safawiyah village, Raqqa, Syria

Airwars assessment

A civilian was injured by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the village of Safawiyah on September 21, 2023.

Hawar News reported that a citizen named Qaban Aziz Al-Khalil (29 years old) was injured and transferred to Al-Raqqa Hospital to receive treatment when a Turkish drone bombed the village of Safawiyah.

BasNews reported that a Turkish drone bombed a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) military point, resulting in casualties, including a civilian. The source specified that number of fighters were killed, including prominent officials.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Qaban Aziz Al-Khalil قبن عزيز الخليل
29 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Qaban Aziz Al-Khalil (29 years old), injured by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the village of Safawiyah on September 21, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS630

Incident date

September 20, 2023

Location

قرية أبو نيتونا, Abu Nitouna, Raqqa, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was seriously injured by an alleged Turkish bombardment of the village of Abu Nitouna on September 20, 2023

According to ANF’s correspondent, a citizen named Majed Ibrahim Ali was seriously injured by a Turkish bombardment of the village of Abu Nitouna. Alyaum TV added that in addition to the civilian injury, the Turkish bombing resulted in property damage.

The Violations Documentation Center put the injury toll at two civilians and reported that the injured were taken to the hospital.

All of the sources attributed the bombing to Turkey, with multiple sources mentioning that heavy weapons were used in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Majed Ibrahim Ali ماجد إبراهيم علي
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Majed Ibrahim Ali, seriously injured by alleged Turkish bombing of the village of Abu Nitouna on September 20, 2023. (Image posted by ANF)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Majed Ibrahim Ali, seriously injured by alleged Turkish bombing of the village of Abu Nitouna on September 20, 2023. (Image posted by Ronahi.tv)

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS629

Incident date

September 17, 2023

Location

عامودا, Qamishlo-Amuda road, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between two and eight civilians were injured by alleged Turkish drone strikes on Ali Faro Road between Qamishlo and Amuda on September 17, 2023. Up to four militants were killed and three others were injured in the original strike, while the civilians were injured in a double tap strike as they tried to help the injured.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that four militants, including a commander, were killed and three members of the Internal Security Forces and two young male civilians on a motorbike were injured by shrapnel from a Turkish drone strike on the commander’s vehicle.

According to FOX Press, two members of the Internal Security Forces were killed and eight civilians were injured by the Turkish drone strikes on a vehicle on the road linking Qamishlo and Amuda. FOX Press added that the civilians were injured while they were trying to treat the injured from a previous strike and take them to the hospital.

Eastern Post Network posted on Facebook that a leader in the SDF named Ayman Joi was among the others killed, with this source reporting two others killed in the incident.

The North Press Agency identified the incident as occurring on the Ali Faro Road. All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Turkey.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    3

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Turkish drone strikes on a vehicle on the Qamishlo-Amuda road on September 17, 2023. (Image posted by Dilovan Çeto via Facebook)
  • Ayman Joli, alleged Turkish drone strikes on a vehicle on the Qamishlo-Amuda road on September 17, 2023. (Image posted by Eastern Post Network via Facebook)
  • The leader in the ranks of #SDF, called Ayman Joli, was killed with two of his companions as a result of an air strike by a Turkish drone that targeted their car on the Qamishli-Amuda road this morning

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    3

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS628

Incident date

September 6, 2023

Location

قرية طحمة, Tahna village, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three children were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Tahna village on September 6, 2023. At the time of reporting, all three children were in the intensive care unit in serious condition.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that three children from the same family were seriously injury by Turkish shelling of Tahna village and were taken to Al-Barkal hospital in Manbij city for treatment.

ANF reported the names of the children injured according to hospital records: Weam Al-Jassem (15 years old), Ibrahim Al-Jassem (12 years old), and Jalal Al-Jassem (14 years old).

The administrator and assistant surgeon at Al-Barkal Hospital, Ahmed Al-Ali, told ANF that two of the children’s were opened because of the presence of shrapnel, and two of the children had their spleens removed. He also said The first child, Weam Al-Jassem, has an injury to the kidney and stomach and had his spleen removed. The other child, Jalal Al-Jassem, has the same injuries, but his kidney is more damaged. There is a possibility that we will remove it within the next 24 hours, but now we are waiting in the hope that it will return to work and if it stops completely. The third child, Ibrahim Al-Jassem, was subjected to a chest explosion due to a bad wind.”

News of north and east of Syria posted on Facebook that the medical staff treating the children said “We are making efforts to save their lives.”

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Weam Al-Jassem وئام الجاسم
15 years old injured
Ibrahim Al-Jassem إبراهيم الجاسم
12 years old injured
Jalal Al-Jassem جلال الجاسم
14 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Children being treated for serious injuries following alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Tahna on September 6, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS627

Incident date

September 5, 2023

Location

قرية الحويجة, Al-Hawija village, Raqqa, Syria

Airwars assessment

A male civilian was injured in a bombing suspected to have been carried out by the Turkish military during the night of September 5, 2023 in Al-Hawija village in Ain Issa district. A Hawar News correspondent named the injured civilian as 23 year old Khalil Ibrahim Al-Hamad who was taken to the National Hospital in Raqqa for treatment; it is unclear what injuries he sustained in the attack.

Several homes were damaged in the attack. Images shared by Hogir Necar were taken during the night with reduced visibility but show the resulting damage in three different locations, including a hole in an external residential building the size of a doorway, and rubble scattered on the street from another location damaged by the bombing. Hawar News discussed this bombing attack alongside a further context of recent use of “machine guns and heavy weapons” in the area by the Turkish Army.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khalil Ibrahim Al-Hamad
23 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling in Ain Issa district on September 5, 2023. (Image posted by Hogir necar via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling in Ain Issa district on September 5, 2023. (Image posted by Hogir necar via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling in Ain Issa district on September 5, 2023. (Image posted by Hogir necar via Facebook)

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]